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Author Topic: Sprucing up the old R65...  (Read 36573 times)

Offline Adrian

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Sprucing up the old R65...
« on: September 11, 2011, 02:37:42 AM »
 ;) I hope this is appropriate but I just wanted to say how much help this forum has been to me recently. I'm in the process of giving my R65 a major strip own overhaul and cleanup and I've read some useful info in the last few days. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to put up stuff. Hopwfully a few piks will appear of my old sad Beemer as I start to spruce her up.
« Last Edit: January 15, 2021, 09:30:07 AM by Justin B. »
1984 R65 (860)

Offline montmil

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2011, 06:19:09 AM »
Take lots of digi photos, Adrian. These will be a tremendous assist during the refit. So many peeps have run into problems with two items: control cable routing and wiring harness.

Press on, mate! Have fun.

Monte
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

VaSteve

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2011, 07:51:54 AM »
That's in a lot nicer shape than mine when I did the same thing.   I have a bunch of photos (never enough) if you run into something you didn't shoot.

« Last Edit: January 15, 2021, 09:31:42 AM by Justin B. »

Offline Adrian

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2011, 09:25:57 AM »
Thanks guys - nice photos Steve. I'm mainly doing so much work as it needs a new drive shaft and it's got a bit messy over the last few years. I suffer with Chronic fatigue Syndrome so i don't get to ride much - only in the very good weather. It's something to keep me amused for a few minutes every day as and when I feel up to it. I'm in Old Fart Tinkering In The Shed mode once again. More piks will follow as I do the work - next is the forks and some welding on the headlamp bracket and then off with the barrels for a blasting cleeanup and stuff like that.  ::)
1984 R65 (860)

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2011, 09:54:18 AM »
A note on your driveshaft, if the u-joint is the only thing thats worn out, you may be able to have a shop that specializes in drive shaft repair replace the u-joint it's only 'staked' in, not really difficult to replace  .

A lot costly than relacing the driveshaft, if it doesn't really need it .

$30 for a u-joint, $3-400 for a driveshaft .
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Offline Adrian

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2011, 07:23:54 PM »
Hi Bob - thanks for the advice. I hadn't considered that as an option because a BMW mechanic once told me that replacing the u joint wasn't possible on older units. I'll see what I can find out before buying an exchange unit. I guess being able to buy an exchange unit means that they can be repaired. Hmmmm - I must be getting old to have missed the obvious  ;D
1984 R65 (860)

Teo

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2011, 12:15:32 PM »
Check Bruno's for u-joint repair/replacement    http://www.brunos.us/

and another source of good stuff is  http://www.bmwmotorcycletech.info/references.htm

Offline Adrian

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2011, 02:59:32 AM »
Hi again - thanx Teo for the info - sadly I'm over in Australia so taking advantage of recommended Americam shops isn't possible. Have a good day mate .....
1984 R65 (860)

Offline Adrian

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2011, 01:27:27 AM »
Hello again - just a few recent piks of the work so far. It's slow going but hopefully it'll look great and go well when it's finished. Taking the paint off has shown up some rust that needs treating. I'm looking forward to preparing and respraying it all soon.
« Last Edit: January 15, 2021, 09:34:23 AM by Justin B. »
1984 R65 (860)

clonmore1

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2011, 01:47:38 AM »
Hi Adrian,

We are both at about the same stage of strip down! like you I don't have a lot of time to spend on mine, but really enjoy it when I do.

Seeing the swing arm stripped down as you have pictured it is interesting as I am just about to do that, was it easy, the manual says you need "special" tools etc, but some of the experienced people on here differ in opinion.

I too have had the pleasure of getting top help from this site and it really makes a difference when you are working away on your own in the garage.

Are you going to make it pin perfect or get it to a point to ride and enjoy?

All the best

Chris

Offline Adrian

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2011, 03:22:02 AM »
Hi Chris - I see your from Yorkshire. I come from Surrey just south of London. Been here in Oz since 1991. Bought the bike in 1992. The swinging arm is a specialist job mate. I did try to build a type of press but it failed under pressure and just buckled. I would recommend taking it to a local bike shop and get them to dismantle it for you.
I bought a recon drive and new couplings as mine were heavily pitted and flattened on the contact surfaces. This was causing vibration and a clunking noise on take up. Check yours carefully. You must live near Motorworks - all those spares you see in the foto are from them. Excellent guys to deal with.
I'm hoping to respray or repaint as much as I can get off the bike without removing the engine. So the frame will have to be hand painted after some prep work. The paint I'll use is very good at drying smooth and adhering.
I have some really old wiring that needs attention - the barrels are coming off to fix some minor oil weepage - the external push rod tubes have also gone rusty so they need attention - new rings - and anything else I find needs doing. If all goes well I should have it all done in about 6 months. This is my second time around sprucing and repairing the old girl - last time was back in 1996.
I'm a disability pensioner so I have a short time each day when I can function reasonably well. I'm promised by my specialist that I will recover soon and be able to go back to riding again if only for short rides. I live in South Oz and the riding here is fabulous. I live close to the Adelaide Hills and the roads come in all sorts. Australia generally is a great country for biking. I get about 9 months of good biking weather a year. Eat yer heart out!!!
I hope you'll put some piks up of your bike too. It would be great to see how its all going.
1984 R65 (860)

azcycle

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2011, 10:33:16 AM »
Looking forward to seeing the rest of the teardown and rebuild.

Cheers from Tucson, AZ!  [smiley=beerchug.gif]

Dizerens5

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #12 on: October 14, 2011, 11:37:54 AM »
Hello Adrian from UK - can you tell me something? I've heard that in Australia there are restrictions on use of classic bikes, like need to keep a log for every trip and limited number of days riding in any one year. Is that correct and can you add a few details? Like is it even true? And if so is it for all Oz or only certain states? Thanks!

clonmore1

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #13 on: October 14, 2011, 01:32:54 PM »
Hi Adrian,

Yes I live about 3 miles from Motorworks! I will be using Mollsprings to do the drive shaft, I am going the whole hog and make the bike "pin" perfect and then ride it! I can't wait!

I will post pictures and look forward to reading about your riding exploits when you are back in the saddle!

All the best Mate and look after yourself :)

Offline Adrian

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Re: Sprucing up the old R65...
« Reply #14 on: October 14, 2011, 07:11:31 PM »
Quote
Hello Adrian from UK - can you tell me something? I've heard that in Australia there are restrictions on use of classic bikes, like need to keep a log for every trip and limited number of days riding in any one year. Is that correct and can you add a few details? Like is it even true? And if so is it for all Oz or only certain states? Thanks
Hi there - well you've sort of heard correctly. Here in Oz the vehicle registration (road fund licence) is slightly different than the UK. The thing you're talking about is a special rego for classic or vintage bikes. This allows for a bike to be registered for use on a certain number of days in any rego period - which in a 90 day period I think is 25 days. The log book is for recording the time and days the bike gets used. The idea is that if the police stop a biker for any reason they can make sure that he's keeping an accurate record of the rides.
Bike insurance companies offer similar deals. It's possible to insure the bike fully for weekend rides only - midnight Friday to midnight Sunday. When it's not being ridden the insurance will still cover the bike for theft and maybe a bit more. This can save the owner a heap of money if the bike is only ridden occasionally. My bike has seasonal rego. That means that I won't be "fined" if I don't register the bike all year. I tend to keep it off the road during the winter months as my health prevents me from riding in the colder weather. Here tho, I get 9 months of good riding weather in every year.
The down side is that in most states the open road speed limit is restricted to about 100 to 110 kph (60 mph or so) - the Northern territories are more sensible with a top speed of 140 kph. The level of police monitoring of the roads for speeding all around Oz is borderline paranoid.
Overall it's one of the best countries in the world for short and especially long distance riding. I've ridden thru the centre from Darwin to Adelaide - when I was younger -  and I'm planning another long trip for when I'm not so ill.
Hope that was interesting for you - just a tad more than you asked  
 8-) ;D
1984 R65 (860)